Jordan Hirst – Human rights groups have slammed a conservative province in Indonesia for publicly flogging two men convicted of having consensual gay sex in a "horrifying act of discrimination".

Earlier in the week, the two university students in Indonesia's Aceh province for having consensual same-sex sexual relations.

While homosexuality is not illegal in most of Indonesia, same-sex activity is criminalised in two provinces of Indonesia: Aceh and South Sumatra.

Sentences for so-called "morality" offences include a maximum penalty of eight years' imprisonment and 100 lashes.

Last November, police arrested the two Aceh students, aged 18 and 24, in the provincial capital Banda Aceh.

Vigilante neighbours suspected the men of being gay and broke into their rented room. The intruders caught the men naked together and embracing each other, and reported them to police.

A Shariah court judge in Aceh said prosecutors had "legally and convincingly" proven the two students had gay sex.

"During the trial, it was proven that the defendants committed illicit acts, including kissing and having sex," the judge said, per the Associated Press.

"As Muslims, the defendants should uphold the Shariah law that prevails in Aceh."

The two men, aged 18 and 24, were publicly flogged in Banda Aceh on Thursday (pictured above). The men were caned 77 times and 82 times each with a rattan stick as dozens watched on.

'A horrifying act of discrimination'

Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director Montse Ferrer said the gay men's punishment was horrifying and cruel.

"Indonesia's flogging of two gay men is a horrifying act of discrimination," Ferrer said.

"Intimate sexual relations between consenting adults should never be criminalized. No one should be punished because of their real or perceived sexual orientation.

"Having already had their privacy brutally invaded when they were ambushed by members of the public while having sex, these men were then humiliated in public today and physically harmed.

"These flogging punishments are cruel, inhuman and degrading, and may amount to torture.

"Aceh and Indonesian central government authorities must take immediate action to halt these practices and revoke the bylaws that allow them to take place.

"Such laws must be brought in line with international human rights law and standards, and with Indonesia's obligations under its own Constitution.

"Aceh's regional autonomy, which is its basis to apply Sharia law, must not come at the expense of human rights."

Human Rights Watch Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono said the Aceh government must review their Islamic criminal code.

"The intimidation, discrimination and abuses against LGBTQ individuals in Aceh are like a bottomless well," he told Agence France-Presse.

Gay sex party raided by police in Jakarta

While homosexuality is not illegal in the rest of Indonesia, queer Indonesians face discrimination and persecution.

In recent years, political leaders and police have increasingly targeted the country's LGBTQIA+ communities with homophobic rhetoric and raids.

Human rights groups warn police use Indonesia's anti-pornography laws to target queer people.

This month, police in Jakarta raided and arrested 56 men at a private event in a hotel. Officers described the gathering as a "gay sex party."

Reuters reported three of the men accused of organising the event face serious charges under Indonesia's anti-pornography laws.

Source: https://qnews.com.au/outrage-as-indonesian-men-publicly-flogged-for-having-gay-sex